Latest Posts

Prímera División – El Sonido de Prímera División

April 26, 2021 Cliff Parks

Hunger Artist and Covito, two of Buffalo hip hop’s most versatile producers have teamed up to keep the city’s current cultural dominance in the forefront with international beats and vibes under the code name Prímera División, and El Sonido de Prímera División is their debut manifesto. Projected through the prism of the global obsession that is football (soccer) and the gritty and hazy ear candy that’s an essential component of Buffalo’s Hip Hop sound, the remixes and sonic collages of El Sonido de Prímera División showcase the inescapable fact that the Queen City’s hip hop scene is the spiritual and aesthetic inheritors of all things East Coast. Following in the footsteps of sonic pioneers like The Bomb Squad, DJ Premier, and The RZA, Primera Division creates intricate Walls of Sound for each cut to get all the way in your ears, with layers of esoteric samples and psychedelic frequencies designed[...]

Sons of Luther Explore “Isolationism”

November 2, 2020 Cliff Parks

Batavia post grunge disciples Sons of Luther are back with a lacerating slice of political protest rock right in time for Election Day called “Isolationism” and it takes no prisoners. Recorded in secret at a post industrial location under the strictest safety procedures in October, “Isolationism” finds Sons mastermind Wren Werner pondering America’s fraught political climate amidst a global pandemic fragmenting our society and minds susceptible to conspiracy theories and fringe thinking… and laying down some serious riffs to back it up. The very 80’s, analog VHS video clip for “Isolationism” directed by Adam Burnett is psychedelic and also right on schedule because our linear conception of time itself has been rendered meaningless by Quarantine 2020-2021. What’s not meaningless is Werner’s commendable pledge to donate any Sons of Luther revenue generated during our annus horribilis of 2020 to the NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) Save Our Stages, and the Equal[...]

Quinton Brock is Taking All of Us “To The Moon”

October 19, 2020 Cliff Parks

Quinton Brock’s latest single “To The Moon” is everything you need right now in the year of our lord 2020, and it’s video directed by Shauna Presto is pure gold and the future Leftists dream of. The ever elusive Brock has previously offered us glimpses into his progressive and soulful vision hip-hop, but here it’s sunny and frankly gorgeous surf punk rock that’s rousingly, joyfully alive thanks to his satisfyingly earnest melodies, some killer riffs and shredding from Griff Smith and Peter Enriquez, and some fat and swinging rhythm from bassist Don Hanson and drummer Gengis Don. The video from buffaBLOG alum Shauna Presto is pure summer, and a heavenly expression of freedom, love, and community, and everybody needs to get with it as soon as possible. Thanks.

way2wavybaby & chango4 Break on Thru to Planet 9

July 20, 2020 Cliff Parks

Right in time for the most catawampus Fourth of July in American history probably since the original and our ongoing Coronavirus summer, Buffalo’s hip hop scene delivered not one but two vital albums for our long, hot summer, Westside Gunn’s latest, which we’ll leave to Pitchfork now that the Grizelda crew has gone supernova; and Planet 9, a gloriously shiny and irresistible collaboration featuring emcees way2wavybaby and Chango4 that’s chilled out yet laser sharp, and a very encouraging glimpse of the future. If it feels like the ground is moving beneath our feet that’s because it is, and way2wavybaby and Chango4 are part of this seismic shift. You love to see it: artists explicitly breaking down the exclusionary and oppressive limitations of old paradigms to get and be free, and the aspirational, DGAF lyrics and hypnotic grooves of Planet 9 feels like a welcome manifestation of this phenomena. Gen Z emcees like way2wavybaby and[...]

Humble Braggers Break Out With New Single “Locked Inside”

March 11, 2020 Cliff Parks

Buffalo synth pop quartet Humble Braggers have dropped a very tight new single “Locked Inside” that’s exactly what you need inside and out after an exceptionally sunless winter. Humble Braggers don’t play around on this single, with every element on song from the achingly vulnerable tenor and evocative lyrics of frontman and creative guru Tom Burtless, a crystal clean guitar solo also from Burtless, “Locked Inside” breaks free to achieve proper lift off thanks to it’s genuine and meaningful empathy, it’s M83 worthy synth lines reaching for outer space, and some club friendly change ups and 80’s drum vibes encouraging you to get free. Check it out below and let some sunshine in. Locked Inside by Humble Braggers

Tonight: VACATION

March 5, 2020 Cliff Parks

Head downtown to get switched on tonight by Cincinnati lo-fi garage rockers VACATION when they roll through the Mohawk with some staples from the local punk scene. Getting free via a raw sound that fuses punk, early Flaming Lips psychedelia, and crisp songwriting, VACATION are touring behind their other dimensional 2019 LP Zen Quality Seed Crystal. Opening the show will be a rare performance from Alpha Hopper and shredding punk trio Personal Style. Cover is $8 and doors are at 7:30pm. Zen Quality Seed Crystal by VACATION

Tonight: Kevin Scoma

February 22, 2020 Cliff Parks

The 9th Ward at Babeville hosts a tremendous evening of local indie singer/songwriters featuring Kevin Scoma, heave, and Koko Neetz, and the dead perfect acoustics of that intimate and lovely brick performance space in the basement. Kevin Scoma will be playing tunes from his excellent Into The Weeping Sea EP, a deeply melodic and captivating fragment of dream folk pop that translates like a charm in a live setting, or at least it did last fall in the Cantina at Duende. Opening the show will be Emily Finlan’s heave., who are currently preparing to go on tour behind the achingly sweet chamber folk of their 2019 debut full length LP Pike, and the sweet, soothing sounds of Koko Neetz, Andrew Kothen’s (guitarist for dreambeaches) solo project. Doors are at 7pm, cover is $10, and a portion of the proceeds will be used to plant trees throughout Western New York. Into the Weeping Sea by Kevin Scoma

Tonight: Steak & Cake Records 9th Anniversary

February 15, 2020 Cliff Parks

The brainchild of local musician, producer and budding impresario Brandon Schlia, Steak & Cake Records has been a vital to the Buffalo music scene, and tonight area record label Steak & Cake Records celebrates nine years at Curly’s with a killer lineup of acts from their troupe of artists and an album release from Buffalo by way of Philadelphia grunge rockers Wylie Something. Spacey and pleasingly gnarly, Wylie Something is the latest project from Jacob Smolinski, previously of Cascos and Local Onlys, and he’s back in town to celebrate the release of his sophomore LP Welcome? which arrives today for your listening pleasure. Tonight’s lineup also features indie pop duo Olmsted, indie power pop duo Patchwork (one half of which is the boss Schlia himself), budding rock heroes Johnny & the Man Kids, garage punks Personal Style, and soulful art rocker outfit The Best Strangers will also be on hand to[...]

Tonight: Sugar City Soul Night

February 14, 2020 Cliff Parks

Sugar City Soul Night is back and this year it’s on Valentine’s Day night for all your booty shaking needs at Milkie’s on Elmwood, so don’t miss out. The primary fundraiser for the beloved and vital all ages DIY arts, performance and community space, Soul Night is all about tasty grooves guaranteed to keep you warm inside and out during a polar vortex or whatever. Soul Night 2020 will be featuring DJ sets from Handsome Dan, DJ Press, and Steve Soulson, spinning the hottest soul, r & b, funk, disco, and afrobeat from 10pm to 3am. As always, cover is $5, safe space rules will be in effect so please… no jerks, and unlike Sugar City’s other programming, Soul Night is 21 and up.

Sons of Luther Drop New Single “Kill Your Darlings” Featuring Medusa and Bkpr

February 5, 2020 Cliff Parks

Rochester indie guitar rock heroes Sons of Luther have teamed with Buffalo darktronica guru Medusa and beat maestro Bkpr to drop “Kill Your Darlings,” a dark, mesmerizing and modern take on British 90’s electronica. Floating on an impeccably tasteful Bkpr loop, Portishead and Massive Attack vibes, and multi-tracked harmonies that reach for the infinite, “Kill Your Darlings” showcases some killer soul vocals from blog favorite Medusa and unobtrusive yet effective production from Sons mastermind Wren Werner that gets the job done. Check it out below, and keep an eye out for Medusa’s upcoming album Boy Of The Year due early this year. Kill Your Darlings feat. Medusa & Bkpr by Sons Of Luther feat. Medusa & Bkpr

Tonight: Too Many Zooz

January 30, 2020 Cliff Parks

Tonight NYC trailblazers Too Many Zooz bring their enigmatic and irresistibly danceworthy brand of brass band music to Buffalo Iron Works with fellow NYC vibe guru Birocratic. Ecstatically and virally bursting forth from the subway station busking scene with a sound and aesthetic that blends house, funk, and a few genres of jazz, the trio that is Too Many Zooz is all about groove, feelings, putting on a good show, and getting down. Opener Birocratic aka Brandon Rowan is a New Jersey by way of Brooklyn multi instrumentalist with a thing for Adult Swim calibre ethereal vibes and soulful emotions, so get there early. Tickets are $17 and doors are at 8pm.

denzelworldpeace Teams with Humble Braggers on New Single

January 22, 2020 Cliff Parks

Up-and-coming Buffalo beatsmith denzelworldpeace has teamed up with Humble Braggers mastermind Tom Burtless to drop the first local jam of 2020, “Time Can’t Help,” and takes us to church. The classically trained denzelworldpeace aka Denzel Crockett has been producing since he was a kid, quietly building a catalog of sexy bedroom electronica since late 2018, but he’s poised to come on strong this year with this exquisitely tasteful slab of electronic love wrapped up in Cathedralesque sonics and hymnlike blue eyed soul from Tom Burtless. This is it and it is everything..

Tonight: Advance Base

January 16, 2020 Cliff Parks

Tonight electronic minimalist troubadour Advance Base returns to Buffalo to ply his dark trade at Nietzsche’s with local indie rocker Ex-Pat and Nashville lo-fi indie band Sinai Vessel. The current project from Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s Owen Ashworth features the Chicago singer/songwriter channeling Nick Cave and Phosphorescent’s Matthew Houck against sparse and increasingly bleak electronic soundscapes, so be prepared to go deep into your own emotions. Tour mates Sinai Vessel are an evocative lo-fi folk trio who just released yours, an EP of new material last month that leans away from garage rock and into folk. Ex-Pat aka Patrick Weil opens the show with his laid back and very psychedelic brand of indie. Doors are at 8pm and cover is $10. Animal Companionship by Advance Base

Tonight: Stay Gold at the Burchfield Penney Art Center

January 10, 2020 Cliff Parks

Art and music intersect brilliantly and beautifully tonight when the Burchfield Penney Art Center hosts their annual Stay Gold party featuring some of Western New York’s hottest artists. Throughout the Burchfield Penney, au courant artists will be displaying site specific installations alongside the museum’s current ongoing exhibitions and performances by a plethora of up to the minute local acts including heave, Carmen & Izzy, The Burkharts, Tough Old Bird, Cooler, TVMTN, Sydney Jeanne, and MEDUSA. Admission is free, there’s a cash bar, and the museum is open to 10pm with music starting at 4pm. East Gallery heave – 4:05pm- 4:50pm Carmen & Lizzy – 6:05pm – 6:40pm Tough Old Bird – 8:45pm – 9:30pm Reception Space The Burkharts – 5:00pm – 5:50pm TVMTN – 6:40pm – 7:25pm Cooler – 8:05pm – 8:40pm Margaret L. Wendt Gallery Sidney Jeanne– 5:15pm – 6:00pm MEDUSA – 8:05pm – 8:40pm ET by MEDUSA

Tonight: Televisionaries

December 19, 2019 Cliff Parks

Vintage Rochester surf rockers Televisonaries roll through town tonight at the Mohawk for a solid show featuring darktronica mastermind Medusa, garage punks Regular Sex, and Velvet Bethany. Bringing together rockabilly grit and California surf rock, Televisionaries rock hard with some clean lines and some off the rails guitar riffs. Buffalo darktronica mastermind Medusa has a new album in the works for early 2020, and everything they’re doing is always worth checking out, while Regular Sex and Velvet Bethany round out the evening with some fine punk rock for your kicking out the jams needs. Doors are at 7pm and cover is $7. Live From Three Sheets by Televisionaries